PECOT
What is the Population?
Female nurses cohorts from NHS & NHSII
T or F? External replication was used to validate findings
True!
Is the model 1 column adjusted or not adjusted for BMI, smoking, and age?
not adjusted
T or F? The external replication cohort decreases generalizability
False! It increases generalizability (compares it to a more diverse pop)
What groups were participants chosen from for this study?
NHS and NHS II cohorts of US female nurses
What is the Exposure?
Circulating plasma metabolites
Who did the sample consist of in the replication cohort?
Female military participants from the US Department of Defence
In table 3, what is carnitine's super class?
Amino acid
How were RA diagnoses verified after self-reports?
The study analyzed medical reports to confirm diagnosis
How were controls chosen? (hint it wasn't one to one)
two controls for every RA case
What is the Comparison?
Those who do not develop RA
T or F? Seropositive RA is less severe than all RA.
False! Seropositive is MORE severe than all RA.
Which metabolite was linked to increased RA risk?
spermidine
T or F? The study's findings are applicable to males.
False! Only did metabolomic testing on females.
What was the study design?
Nested case-control study within a prospective cohort study
What is the Outcome?
Development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
Was the metabolic approach targeted or non-targeted?
non-targeted! (hypothesis-generating)
What was carnitine's OR in table 2 adjusted?
0.8
What were some of the confounders that were adjusted for?
Age, BMI (Body Mass Index) & Smoking
What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?
A bilateral, autoimmune condition that causes inflammation to the joints (synovial membranes)
What was the time?
5-year pre-diagnosis window
What method did they use to analyze the blood samples?
Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry
In table 3, which metabolite had the lowest OR adjusted?
carnitine
What is a type of bias that was reduced?
Information, recall, reporting, misclassification, etc
What is Metabolomics?
the study of small molecules that are products or intermediates of metabolic activity